Deepak Chopra is the author of more than 50 books and is the founder of two wellness centers. He is one of S&P's Living Spiritual Teachers. This book was inspired by a course he taught for eight years at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Whereas the old definitions of leadership centered around power, Chopra prefers to see those who head up a business, organization, or community group as "the symbolic soul of the group."

Chopra discusses the thrust of leading from the soul in the following acronym:

L=Look and Listen so you know what is happening and going on.
E=Emotional Bonding means that leaders have great sensitivity to others, a knowledge of their own feelings, and an empathy for others.
A=Awareness embraces the ability to expand one's consciousness.
D=Doing requires that leaders are open to what the moment brings and have the vision to put their ideas and ideals into action.
E=Empowerment signifies the ability to bring out the best in every individual and to animate the group as well.
R=Responsibility means walking the talk and not blaming others for problems or challenges.
S=Synchronicity consists of being at the right place at the right time and making the most of both luck and pluck.

Chopra manages to elude the jargon that over the years has obscured the meanings of visionary leadership. Here are some of the important issues and subjects he deals with in this short book: the seven needs of a group, the seven attributes of consciousness, the spiritual side of doing, the shadows of leadership, the eight areas of life we are responsible for, and the ten principles of leadership. He concludes this salutary meditation with this thought:

"Being is the ground of everything. It is pure awareness, the womb of creativity, the generator of evolution. When the final story is told, leadership is the most crucial choice one can make — the decision to be. Only someone who turns for wisdom to the silent domain of the soul can thrive in the midst of chaos. Such a person will be remembered as a great leader."